Americans Are Unhappier Than Ever. Solo Dining May Be a Sign.
Briefly

The World Happiness Report indicates that Americans are increasingly miserable, now ranked 24th in happiness, down from 11th in 2012. A notable factor is the exponential rise in solo dining, with a quarter of Americans dining entirely alone, a 53% increase since 2003. This is especially pronounced among those under 25, raising alarms about the implications for social support and political polarization. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve from Oxford University connects meal-sharing to trust and social behavior, emphasizing that isolation limits engagement with different perspectives, potentially worsening societal divides.
The rise in solo dinner reservations among Americans indicates a broader trend of increasing social isolation, with 25% reporting they eat all meals alone.
According to the World Happiness Report, the U.S. ranked 24th in happiness, reflecting a decline from its previous place in 2012, indicating growing misery.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve highlights that sharing meals relates to social support and trust, noting a troubling 80% increase in dining alone among young adults.
The loneliness epidemic and increased political polarization are linked to social isolation, as fewer shared meals lead to unchallenged ideas and extremist views.
Read at www.nytimes.com
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